Meniere's Australia: Meniere's Disease Resource and Information Centre

Current research related to Meniere’s disease

Meniere’s/Vertigo/BPPV Diagnostic Tool

Brian Lithgow receiving the New Inventor's Invention of the Year award for the EVestG More volunteers needed – Alfred Hospital-Monash University
Monash University (Australia) researchers believe they have developed a new diagnostic tool for measuring the effectiveness of drug therapies applied to Meniere’s/Vertigo/BPPV patients and for assisting in the early detection of Meniere’s/Vertigo/BPPV disease.

Research has progressed well (see below). To complete the next stage of the project the team are now looking for a more volunteers with Meniere's or BPPV or non specific Vertigo to participate. The test involves placing a cotton bud like electrode in the ear and voluntarily tilting the head forward and back. The test lasts about 1-1.5 hours. MA Hon. CEO Lynn Polson participated and found it to be a very interesting experience.

For more information contact Dr Katherine Ashley Roberts on Ka.Roberts@alfred.org.au or (03) 90765033. Or you can contact Brian Lithgow email: brian.lithgow@monash.edu

Progress report - February 2011
The research into the uses of ElectroVesibulography (EVestG) as a tool for detecting and monitoring Vestibular disorders is progressing well thanks to the volunteers who have participated in the study.

Last year EVestG won the ABC New Inventor’s Invention of the year.

A third EVestG facility is now commissioned at the Riverview Hospital Winnipeg Canada “The Brain Research Laboratory”.

Example Publications:

“ElectroVestibuloGram (EVestG): The separation of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Meniere’s Disease” by B. Lithgow, M. Shoushtarian, and D. Heibert. MedSip2006, Glasgow, UK. CD Rom 4 pgs.
"Electrovestibulography (EvestG): The “DC” potential used to separate Meniere’s Disease and BPPV" (2007) by A .Garrett, D.Heibert and B. Lithgow, Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS, Lyon France 4 pages.
“EVestG signals: Feature selection.” B. J. Lithgow, D. Heibert. NER2009, Ankalya, Turkey. 4pgs.
“Computer Models of the Vestibular Head Tilt Response, and their relationship to EVestG and Meniere’s Disease”, Heibert,D.,Lithgow, B.and Hourigan, K., Tokyo May 2010 International Conference on Cognitive and Neural Systems Engineering.

Tinnitus Study

Have you experienced any prolonged ringing, buzzing, or other sounds in your ear(s) or head more than once a week lasting for 5 minutes or longer in the past year?

If you answer YES to this question, 18 to 65 years of age and in good general health, the University of Western Australia and the Ear Science Institute Australia are interested in your participation in a study on tinnitus.

The total time commitment for the study is up to 45 minutes. If you would like to take part in the study (online or by paper survey), please contact Natalie Carmody:

Email: natalie.carmody@earscience.org.au or Phone: 08 6380 4926

Be one of 500 to take part in Australia's first Captioned Telephone Trial!

Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) is trialling a new technology for hearing impaired Australians. The new telephone provides real-time captions of everything the hearing party is saying which means, if you miss a word, you can simply refer to the captions for support.

ACE is searching for up to 500 new users to take part in the captioned telephone trial. Recruitment has already started and you can register your interest: Phone 1300 107 546 or email info@aceinfo.net.au

Australian Meniere's Research Fund Inc. (MRFI)

Dr. Daniel Brown in his lab Australian Daniel Brown MSc (Hons) was awarded the first MRF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for research into Meniere's disease. Daniel worked with Professor Alec N Salt at the University of Washington USA. The research involved studies of the activity of hair cells within the inner ear that could reveal new insights into Meniere's disease.

Funds for the Fellowship were donated by members of the Meniere's Support Groups of Victoria and NSW, Australian corporations and individuals.

For more information about Dr Daniel Brown and the work that the Meniere's Research Fund is currently undertaking visit the Meniere's Research Fund Inc website.

UW/Nucleus Vestibular Implant

A new device, the UW/Nucleus Vestibular Implant, has been developed with the aim of stopping the severe vertigo in Meniere’s disease. The device is currently being trialled at the University of Washington. To read more about the trial click on the following link: Head-spinning Meniere’s disease may have met its match